Another Hinge Question
 

New guy here, been lurking for a while, now need a specific answer to a specific question. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

I'm in the process of building a Goldberg Eagle 2 (63"), to eventually be equipped with a .40 2-stroke and a 4-channel radio. The plan is for the low-dihedral wing and eventual moderate aerobatics, perhaps a little payload as well. After that's all figured out, some floats might be in the cards as well.

The question is: Enclosed in the kit are solid hinges that flex in the middle with webbing to properly align them with the control surfaces' deflections. Aside from seeming a little Mickey Mouse in and of themselves, they require an 1/8" hole in the short side of the 1/4"x1/2" balsa that makes up the horizontal stabilizer's trailing edge. It's apparent the cross-sectional area of the balsa is being cut in half, and there's also a stress concentration factor to be worried about, plus whatever imperfections the drill happens to induce.

Are concerns about the structural implications of this setup founded for the intended use of the model? Is there a better option?

Thanks in advance.

Another Hinge Question
 

Yes, there is abetter way. Go to http://www.flightlines.com/forum/For...ML/000053.html and dig down to Swoopers post. He gives a very good picture of how to make hinges out of the covering material whether it be Monocote, fabric or whatever. Much better than the CA hinges. I use them on big birds, some have been flying for over 12 years, with no problems, complete hinge gap sealing, no friction and foolproof performance. Also very inexpensive, just use scraps from your covering jobs.

Another Hinge Question
 

The hinges in that kit aren't CA type... they are polypropylene with no coating.

Instead of the drilled hole recommended by the plans... just drive 2 standard straight pins through the hinge material and the wiid at the same time. (I've even stapled those in place...) This holds the hinges as well as the dowel/toothpick the plans call for. The polypropylene hinges will survive as long as the airplane if you don't nick them on the hinge line.

The Monokote hinge system is another good option, and can be combined wth the CA or polypropylene hinges for a sealed hinge line and a rip-stop version of the Monokote hinge. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Another Hinge Question
 

I wonder how hinges hold up to cold weather? Plastic tends to snap easily in the cold, so I wonder about those monokote hinges up here in winter!

Another Hinge Question
 

Thanks all.

Rodney, I do believe I like the looks of that. The hinge is set up so it's flush to one edge of the stabilizer or wing, then becomes flush to the beveled edge of the control surface when it passes the point where the control surface meets the wing/stabilizer? I can see that being a really slick setup. My dad had talked about fabric hinges set up like that that his dad used, but I didn't have a mental picture of it until now.

FHH, Can you describe that any differently? I'm having a hard time seeing what you're talking about. Also, I don't see where the plans call for a dowel or toothpick. Is there a chance they've changed the hinges since you built the kit? I don't quite see how to pin these down without a large gap as in the one-sided MonoKote hinge pictures in the link Rodney posted or without removing pieces of the hinge itself. Here's a pic of one of the ones that came with mine.

http://www.85merk.com/members/imboring25/eaglehinge.jpg

While we're talking about MonoKote, does anyone know how badly Insignia Blue would show through Jet White trim (looking WAY ahead)?

Nice to know there won't be a replay of the drill-walking incident when the replacement horizontal stabilizer parts come in (wasn't happy with how that stabilizer turned out anyway). [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Another Hinge Question
 

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif[/img] Well, it looks like they changed hinges on me. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif[/img] The old ones were flat... didn't have the barbed rounded section. I'd pitch the ones that are as pictured... not a good design. Replace with CA hinges or as noted previously use the Monokote hinge. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif[/img]

Another Hinge Question
 

I've used those hinges without a problem. It's a good idea to flex them around the hinge line before you install them, just to 'break them in'. I used four of them on each aileron of a Sig LT-40 with no problems. I didn't pin them, just used epoxy in the holes. Dry fit them first to check the position.

As for how white over blue on the monokote, I believe that monokote recommends that you put the dark color over the lighter one or else it will definitely show through - I know that this doesn't answer your 'how badly will it show' question, but thought that I would mention it.

Hope that this helps.

Bob